Air driven hard surface cleaning tool

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cleaning solid surfaces includes a housing configured to substantially encapsulate a surface being cleaned, a vacuum port traversing the housing, a high speed rotating coupler assembly rotatably coupled to the housing, a plurality of impeller blades coupled to the high speed rotating coupler, at least one fluid jet coupled to the impeller blades, and at least one air pathway configured to pass input air past the impeller blades to rotatably drive the impeller blades.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) ofProvisional Application Ser. No. 60/715,029, filed Sep. 7, 2005 andProvisional Application Ser. No. 60/832,172, filed Jul. 19, 2006, bothof which are titled Air Induction Improvement to Existing Hard SurfaceCleaning Tools, which applications are incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Surface cleaning apparatuses vary in both shape and design. However,almost all traditional solid surface cleaning apparatuses include awater source that provides water and/or cleaning agents to a number ofhigh pressure jets. The high pressure jets impart a force on the surfaceto be cleaned, thereby removing unwanted debris and material.

Many solid surface cleaning apparatuses include a rotating jet system.According to these traditional systems, one or more jets are positionedat the end of an arm. The arm is then coupled to a high speed rotatingcoupler. According to this traditional system, the high pressure jets atthe end of the arm are placed at a relatively extreme angle relative tothe surface being cleaned, so that they may impart a horizontal forcecomponent on the arm, thereby inducing rotation of the arm about thehigh speed rotating coupler. However, these traditional solid surfacecleaning apparatuses are often plagued by less than satisfactorycleaning swaths or an inability to clean recessed areas on solidsurfaces. Often, the inability to clean recessed areas on solid surfacesis attributed to the high angle needed on a rotating cleaning head toproduce head rotation.

SUMMARY

According to one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for cleaning solidsurfaces includes a housing configured to substantially encapsulate asurface being cleaned, a vacuum port traversing the housing, a highspeed rotating coupler assembly rotatably coupled to the housing, aplurality of impeller blades coupled to the high speed rotating coupler,at least one fluid jet coupled to the impeller blades, and at least oneair pathway configured to pass input air past the impeller blades torotatably drive the impeller blades.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the at least one air pathwayincludes a plurality of air inlet ports formed in the housing adjacentto the plurality of impeller blades, wherein the impeller blades areconfigured to rotate the high speed rotating coupler by air induced fromthe plurality of air inlet ports.

According to one alternative embodiment, the at least one air pathwayincludes a water/air pickup path leading to a system vacuum hose.According to one exemplary embodiment, the use of air to drive therotation of the high speed rotating coupler assembly of a solid surfacecleaning tool imparts a rotating force on the jet assembly, allowing fora more perpendicular spray jet angle and improved surface cleaning atlower speeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the presentsystem and method and are a part of the specification. The illustratedembodiments are merely examples of the present system and method and donot limit the scope thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the present solidsurface cleaning head, including an air-flow path, according to oneexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a full cross sectional view of the present solidsurface cleaning head including the multiple air induction ports,according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the present solid surface cleaninghead, according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a jet angle cleaning recessed surface imperfections,according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrate a cross-sectional side view of a solid surfacecleaning head configured to drive a turbine with both intake air anddirty water, according to one exemplary embodiment.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar,but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary system and method for forming an air driven solid surfacecleaning apparatus are disclosed herein. Specifically, the exemplarysolid surface cleaning apparatus includes an air pathway, such as one ormore air inlet ports in its housing or a water/air take up pathway, anda number of impeller blades coupled to the high speed rotating couplerassembly to impart a rotating force on the jet assembly, allowing for amore perpendicular spray jet angle and improved surface cleaning atlower speeds. Embodiments and examples of the present exemplary systemsand methods will be described in detail below.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities,measurements, and so forth used in the specification and claims are tobe understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.”Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parametersset forth in the following specification and attached claims areapproximations that may vary depending upon the desired propertiessought to be obtained by the present disclosure.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present system and method. It will be apparent,however, to one skilled in the art, that the present method may bepracticed without these specific details. Reference in the specificationto “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment. The appearance of the phrase “inone embodiment” in various places in the specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Exemplary System

FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate an air driven surface cleaning apparatus,according to one exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3,the air driven surface cleaning apparatus (100) includes a number ofcomponents including, but in no way limited to, an outer housing (110)and a raised inner housing (170) defining a cleaning space. As shown,the space located between the outer housing (110) and the raised innerhousing (170) form a vacuum port (120) that leads to a vacuum source(125). Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of water jets(140) are rotatably coupled to a high speed rotating coupler (130).According to one exemplary embodiment, a pressurized water source (notshown) provides pressurized water and/or cleaning solvents and materialsto the water jets (140), causing the water jets to impart a highpressure cleaning stream onto a desired surface located below thedefined cleaning space.

As mentioned, traditional hard surface cleaning apparatuses includedmany of the above-mentioned components. However, in contrast totraditional cleaning systems, the present exemplary surface cleaningapparatus (100) also includes a fan blade or impeller (150) coupled tothe high speed rotating coupler (130). According to the exemplaryembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the fan blade or impeller (150) iscoupled to the high speed rotating coupler assembly (130) such that theblades of the impeller are disposed near the top of the inside of thecleaning space. According to one exemplary embodiment, the fan blade orimpeller (150) is coupled to the high speed rotating coupler assembly(130) by any number of coupling methods including, but in no way limitedto, an adhesive, welding, and/or any number of mechanical fasteners, andthe like.

In addition to the high speed rotating coupler (130), one or more airinlet ports (160) were added just above the impeller blades (150)through the outer housing (110) of the exemplary surface cleaningapparatus (100). Moreover, according to one exemplary embodiment, theexisting vacuum relief port found on traditional surface cleaningapparatuses (not shown) is removed or otherwise blocked. According toone exemplary embodiment described in further detail below, theinclusion and placement of the air induction ports (160) on the outersurface (110) of the present exemplary cleaning apparatus (100) adjacentto the fan blades or impellers (150) provides for driving rotation ofthe water jets (140) about the high speed rotating coupler (130).

Additionally, according to one exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG.1, the inclusion of the air induction ports (160) on the outer surface(110) of the present exemplary cleaning apparatus (100) adjacent to thefan blades or impellers (150) allows for a modified orientation of thewater jets (140), according to one exemplary embodiment. Specifically,as mentioned previously, traditional spinning surface cleaners orientthe relative angle of the water jets at an extreme angle to provide arotational force for the spinning of the apparatus. However, due to theplacement of the air induction ports (160) on the outer surface (110) ofthe present exemplary cleaning apparatus (100) relative to the fanblades or impellers (150), the required driving force from the jets(140) is significantly reduced and/or eliminated. Consequently, thewater jets (140) of the present exemplary cleaning apparatus (100) canbe oriented to not only provide slight propulsion to spin the rotatingcoupler (130), but also to provide enhanced agitation for cleaning.Specifically, the water jets (140) of the present exemplary cleaningapparatus may be oriented, according to one exemplary embodiment, atbetween approximately 80 and 90 degrees relative to the plane defined bythe bottom of the outer housing (115). According to one exemplaryembodiment, the angle of orientation by the water jets (140) actuallycauses the leading edge (400; FIG. 4) of the spray to be pointed at anegative angle against the direction of rotation (R; FIG. 4), as shownin FIG. 4. Further details of the operation of the present exemplarycleaning apparatus (100) will now be provided below with reference toFIGS. 2 through 4.

Exemplary Operation

Exemplary FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary operation of the presentexemplary cleaning apparatus (100), according to one exemplaryembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, once the tool (100) comes incontact with a surface being cleaned, vacuum is applied by the vacuumsource (125) and a cleaning or rinsing solution is applied through thewater jets (140) by any number of methods including, but in no waylimited to, a machine for powering such tools such as a truck mounted orportable cleaning machine (not shown).

As the vacuum is introduced by the vacuum source (125), air isintroduced to the housing (110) through the open air induction ports(160) above the impeller (150). Specifically, the vacuum created by thevacuum source (125) pulls air through the open air induction ports (160)and into the vacuum source, as indicated by the dashed arrows in FIG. 2.As illustrated, this air flow from the air induction ports (160) passesthrough the impeller (150) and out of the cleaning tool (100) to thevacuum producing source (125). As the air flow passes the impeller(150), a force is imparted on the surface of the blades of the impeller(150) causing the impeller to spin. As the impeller (150) begins torotate, the high speed rotating coupler (130) also begins to spin.Rotation of the high speed rotating coupler (130) also rotates the waterjets (140), causing the cleaning agent emitted from the water jets to beforced under pressure onto the surface being cleaned.

Specifically, according to one exemplary embodiment, the presentexemplary system and method uses the introduction of air to drive therotation of the jets (140) rather than solely using the water from thejets (140). According to the present exemplary embodiment, the use of asecondary propulsion input allows for the modified angle of the waterjets (140) to be slightly less than a 90° angle. This extreme angleallows for the use of lower cleaning and rinsing solution pressures,thereby reducing the risk of damaging the surface being cleaned.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, turning the jet angle (140) of spraymore towards the direction of rotation allows for more intricatedetailed cleaning of cracks or grooves (410) in the surface beingcleaned. Particularly, the leading edge (400) of the spray may bepointed at a negative angle against the direction of rotation (R),allowing for more complete coverage of the surfaces of the cracks orgrooves (410).

Moreover, the introduction of air via the inlet ports (160) providespositive air induction to the surface being cleaned. Consequently, thepresent exemplary system also completes dryer times more quickly andefficiently and eliminates the need for vacuum relief ports.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the driving of the impeller (150) may also beperformed by a combination of air flow entering the apparatus (100) dueto the existence of a vacuum and soiled water that has been used in thecleaning of a desired surface. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the air driventurbine (150) may be placed in the path between the vacuum port (120)and the vacuum hose leading to the vacuum source (125). Consequently,when the air and/or water that is present below the water jets is forcedinto the vacuum port(s) (120), the air and/or water may impart a forceon the air driven impeller (150), imparting a rotational force thereon.

As shown in FIG. 5, the placement of the air driven impeller (150) inthe path of the air and/or water that is passed to the vacuum source(125) efficiently utilizes the energy present in the system withoutnecessitating extreme nozzle angles and other disadvantages of the priorart.

In conclusion, the present exemplary system and method use air and/orwater to drive the rotation of a high speed rotating coupler assembly ofa surface cleaning tool, thereby imparting a rotating force on the jetassembly. According to one exemplary embodiment, the present exemplarysystems and methods allow for a more perpendicular spray jet angle andimproved surface cleaning at lower speeds

The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate anddescribe exemplary embodiments of the present system and method. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the system and method to anyprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of thesystem and method be defined by the following claims.

1. An apparatus for cleaning solid surfaces comprising: a housingconfigured to substantially encapsulate a surface being cleaned; avacuum port traversing said housing; a high speed rotating couplerassembly rotatably coupled to said housing; a plurality of impellerblades coupled to said high speed rotating coupler; at least one fluidjet coupled to said impeller blades; and at least one air pathwayconfigured to pass input air past said impeller blades to rotatablydrive said impeller blades.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said atleast one air pathway comprises: a plurality of air inlet ports formedin said housing adjacent to said plurality of impeller blades; whereinsaid impeller blades are configured to rotate said high speed rotatingcoupler by air induced from said plurality of air inlet ports.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid jet is configured to provide aleading edge of fluid at a negative angle against a direction ofrotation of said fluid jet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidleast one air pathway comprises: a channel defined between a vacuum portdisposed in said housing and a vacuum source; wherein said impellerblades are disposed in said channel.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein said impeller blades are further configured to be driven by acombination of air and soiled water.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,further comprising an inner housing separating said impeller blades fromsaid at least one fluid jet.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, saidat least one fluid jet is oriented between 85 and 90 degrees relative tosaid solid surface.
 8. An apparatus for cleaning solid surfacescomprising: a housing configured to substantially encapsulate a surfacebeing cleaned; a high speed rotating coupler assembly rotatably coupledto said housing; a plurality of impeller blades coupled to said highspeed rotating coupler; and at least one fluid jet coupled to saidimpeller blades; wherein said impeller blades are configured to impart arotational force on said at least one fluid jet.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein said fluid jets are oriented between 85 and 90 degreesrelative to said solid surfaces.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, furthercomprising a vacuum port traversing said housing.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 8, further comprising a plurality of air inlet ports formed insaid housing adjacent to said plurality of impeller blades; wherein saidimpeller blades are configured to rotate said high speed rotatingcoupler by air induced from said plurality of air inlet ports.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein said fluid jet is configured to provide aleading edge of fluid at a negative angle against a direction ofrotation of said fluid jet.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein saidvacuum port comprises: a channel defined between a vacuum port inletdisposed in said housing and a vacuum source; wherein said impellerblades are disposed in said channel.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13,wherein said impeller blades are further configured to be driven by acombination of air and soiled water.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14,further comprising an inner housing separating said impeller blades fromsaid at least one fluid jet.
 16. An apparatus for cleaning solidsurfaces comprising: a housing configured to substantially encapsulate asurface being cleaned; a vacuum port traversing said housing; a vacuumchannel fluidly coupling said vacuum port to a vacuum hose; a high speedrotating coupler assembly rotatably coupled to said housing; a pluralityof impeller blades coupled to said high speed rotating coupler; and atleast one fluid jet coupled to said impeller blades; wherein saidimpeller blades are disposed in said vacuum channel.
 17. The apparatusof claim 16, wherein said impeller blades are configured to rotate saidhigh speed rotating coupler by air induced through said vacuum channel.18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said impeller blades areconfigured to rotate said high speed rotating coupler by water inducedthrough said vacuum channel.